Troupe Directors are reminded that the Melba Day Sparks Fund awards grants to help defray the cost of attending the EdTA National Conference (this year, September 13-16 in Denver). Go to this site to learn more about applying for this and other Troupe Director awards and honors.

Next weekend — on February 3rd — the best of Oregon’s high school theatre-makers will bring their talents to stages and classrooms in three different locations for our 2018 REGIONALS.

The goal of this day is to celebrate the great work being done throughout the state, recognize student achievement in a wide range of theatre events and styles, and provide feedback from a number of qualified judges. You will get a varied response from three or four judges! This is the most valuable part of the day!

Regionals is also the first step in the Showcase Audition process. The State Showcase is a part of our annual State Festival, and features representatives from the terrific work being done across Oregon. The top 10% scorers in each event at Regionals (for novice events, just the top scorer in each region) advance to the Showcase Auditions as Showcase Qualifiers. For larger events, we recognize additional entries (those who score in the top 20%) as Regional Finalists.

Showcase Qualifiers will be invited to perform one more time, on Thursday, April 5th, for two judges who will select representative entries from each event for the State Showcase, on Friday, April 6th.

Complete information for registering for Regionals can be found by CLICKING HERE. We are once again using Speechease to help organize and run our three concurrent events. If you created a Speechease account last year, you can use the same login information and save time (you can reset your password if you don’t remember it). You must register by January 18. Click here for more information.

Registration is also open for the JUNIOR THESPIAN PLAY DAY on January 20. Open to all Middle School groups whether or not they’re a Jr Thespian Troupe, this fun introduction to all things Thespian is free, but you must register by CLICKING HERE.

The 2018 Oregon Thespians Festival is April 5-7 in Salem, and we need submissions for our two Main Stage Productions, presented Thursday and Friday evenings of the Festival at the Historic Elsinore Theatre!

CLICK HERE for complete info for how to submit a show. Remember that submitting a show requires a lot of forethought. The best Main Stage submissions are shows that were selected, designed, and created with the possibility of being selected from the very start.

The deadline to submit is December 15. Shows must be produced before January 15. If you want your show to be seen live by a member of the selection committee, we need two weeks’ notice. Check out the live response option!

The big change this year is that we will not be using DVDs. Shows will need to be uploaded digitally to be reviewed by the committee. Check out the information here. Be a part of our celebration of great high school theatre in Oregon!

Troupe Directors note that you’ll need to make plans for lunch for your troupe. There will be a pizza and salad option to sign up for in advance (watch your email), or you can brownbag it. Options are limited within walking distance in the time allotted.

Troupe Presidents will attend a provided lunch (one representative from each school) where the STO will review goals from last weekend’s Leadership Summit, and preview some exciting developments for the year.

Our first big Troupe Director Meeting of the year happens during Improv Festival. Plan now to join us to discuss important focal points for the coming year (we’ll recap at the OTEA Conference, for those who can’t attend Improv).

Okay, Fantastic Thespians, pack those suitcases and get yourself ready for three days of theatrical magic. FANTASTIC THESPIANS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM swoops into Salem this week, and the schedule goes online today!

Use GUIDEBOOK to stay up to date on all the goings-on. You can download the app for iOS or Android, and get the Guide to this weekend’s Festival. Just click here! Your guide will update any time you go online, but will be available to you even when you’re not online. It’s your best way to get connected!

If you need a paper copy, you can print a pdf of the basic schedule, including workshop and one-act times and descriptions (links below). No printed copies will be distributed at the Festival!Guidebook is the way to go (because once something is put in print, you know it’s going to change). Get all the info here!